In absurd perspective, commentator claims former South Carolina football player might be the first choice in the NFL Draft.
Former South Carolina football defender Jordan Burch, who transferred to Oregon before the 2023 season, was named a dark horse top choice for the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 2024 NFL Draft was held less than two months ago, and the four South Carolina football players selected (wide receiver Xavier Legette, first round, Carolina Panthers; quarterback Spencer Rattler, fifth round, New Orleans Saints; defensive back Marcellas Dial, sixth round, New England Patriots; offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, seventh round, Denver Broncos) were well-deserved. However, since the draft finished, people have started discussing next year’s festivities.
One of the most ridiculous takes about the 2025 NFL Draft came in on Tuesday.
In an article about ten individuals who could be the top choice in the 2025 NFL Draft, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso included former Gamecock defensive end Jordan Burch as a possible first-round pick. Jordan Burch is a former 5-star prospect from Columbia’s Hammond School who plays college football well. But the first overall selection in the NFL Draft? Not a chance.
To Trapasso’s credit, he called Burch a “dark horse” for the top spot, but the perspective is still hysterically terrible. Burch has 7.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in four years of play (three at South Carolina and one with the Oregon Ducks after transferring before the 2023 season). That is less than the average of two sacks and five tackles for loss per season.
As much of an athletic freak as Burch is (6’6″ and around 290 pounds while possessing borderline elite athleticism), he has been a moderately productive starter at the college level. That is not the type of player taken with the first pick of the NFL Draft.
For reference, some other notable defensive ends who were taken with the top pick include Jadeveon Clowney (ever heard of him?), all-time sack leader Bruce Smith, Dallas Cowboys legend Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garret
Could Jordan Burch have a solid senior year at Oregon and become a decent NFL player? Absolutely. Picking him as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, on the other hand, could be the worst bet of the summer, and the season doesn’t even begin until the following day.
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